JO National Newbies: Megan Bingham (Champion-KY)

By

Kim Dowis

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May 17, 2019

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Name: Megham Bingham

Gym: Champion (Kentucky)

Age Group: Junior C

Graduation: 2022

Favorite Quote: “Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become who you respect, mirror what you admire.”

Favorite Social Media: SnapChat

Favorite Super Hero: Iron Man

Favorite Food: Cheese

Favorite Subject: Social Studies

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Tell us about your experience competing at level 10 regionals in 2019, compared this experience to past Regionals or Level 9 Regionals if this was your first year of 10. Last year at Regionals I didn’t have as much fun. I was so focused on what score the judges would give me or how I compared to others throughout the meet. This year I was able to let loose a little and I knew that even if i didn’t qualify, I still had fun and I would work even harder next year to help accomplish my goal. When I knew I qualified, I was so glad that all my hard work and effort, even when practices got hard, payed off.

What have you learned from previous experiences at Regionals or Nationals and what made this year different? At past regionals, I have not been as confident or prepared. This year, however, I was excited to be able to perform my best and show my best routines. I dialed in on corrections and most of all had fun. As nerve-wrecking as regionals can be, I still enjoyed every routine I did!

What are you most looking forward to about nationals? I’m looking forward to being able to represent Region 5 and contributing in every way possible! I can’t wait to get to know my teammates more and getting to cheer them on!

How does it feel to represent Region 5 on a national stage? It is so exciting!! Being able to show off my routines and knowing that I accomplished a huge goal of mine has made me extremely happy. I can’t wait to show others how much fun Region 5 has and what we have to offer!

What is your most memorable moment in gymnastics besides qualifying to JO nationals? This season I had a turning point in my routines. I was hitting my skills but not focusing on the form. At the Gymquarters Podium Meet, I fell on my first event but didn’t let that get to me. Instead I took it as motivation to push myself and really dialed in on everything I did. I achieved career highs on bars, floor, vault, and AA, which led to a great rest of the season.

What is the most powerful piece of advice you have received and how has it specifically impacted your gymnastics? The most powerful piece of advice I have received is to go full out and don’t hold back. My beam coach always tells me before I compete to go out and attack my skills. It makes me more confident and stays in my mind throughout the entire meet.

Tell me something interesting about yourself….special talents, hobbies, interesting facts etc I really like to watch college sports like baseball and basketball because of all the hype that surrounds them. I also like to watch Netflix shows, like Greys Anatomy, The Office, and Parks and Rec. I’ve watched them so many times with my friends because they are so good.

2019 Region 5 JO Nationals Hype Video | Grit and Grind

By

Jason MacDonald

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May 16, 2019

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Grit and Grind…. Can’t Hide our Pride! 2019 Region 5 Level 10 JO National Hype video.

2019 JO Nationals Newbie: Hailey Klein (Flips)

By

Kim Dowis

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May 16, 2019

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Name: Hailey Klein

Gym: Flips

Age Group: Junior B

Graduation: 2023

Favorite Quote: “Hard days are the best because that’s when Champions are made. If you can push through the hard days, then you can get through anything” (Gabi Douglas)

Favorite Food: Rice with Soy Sauce

Favorite Subject: Math

Favorite Type of Music: Country

Favorite Superhero: Supergirl

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Tell us about your experience competing at level 10 regionals in 2019, compared this experience to past Regionals or Level 9 Regionals if this was your first year of 10. I felt level 10 Regionals were a bigger deal to me, then when I competed at level 9 Regionals. Each gymnast in my group was very supportive to everyone, even though we just all met that session. I think we all know the hard work that we have to put in to be a level 10 gymnast.

Talk about moving into level 10, the challenges you have faced and the success you have had over the last year. First, going into level 10 the difficulty in skill increased. At the beginning of working level 10 skills, it felt like the skill wasn’t going anywhere. After patience and hard work, the skill clicked. My successes over the year have been winning more competitions, while qualifying for level 10 nationals. At level 10, I beat my previous record on beam and got a 9.675.

What are you most looking forward to about nationals?I am looking forward to bonding with my new teammates at Nationals.

How does it feel to represent Region 5 on a national stage?It is a little nerve-racking as well as exciting representing Region 5 in Nationals. It is a big step in my gymnastics career.

What is your most memorable moment in gymnastics besides qualifying to JO nationals? My most memorable moment besides qualifying for Nationals at level 10, was getting a 38 all around score at my level 7 state meet. This made me realize that all my hard work was beginning to show.

What is the most powerful piece of advice you have received and how has it specifically impacted your gymnastics? The most powerful piece of advice I have been given in gymnastics is you have to have patience, keep working hard, and take it one skill at a time. This advice has impacted my gymnastics by learning not to rush through my routines during competitions

Tell me something interesting about yourself special talents, hobbies, interesting facts etc. I enjoy making all different kinds of slime. I am learning about business and created an instagram account where I sell my slime (crisp_apple_slimes) . This holiday season I knitted many winter hats for friends and I also sew scrunchies for hair. When I have extra time, I enjoy going for a run.

JO National Newbies: Katie Kowalski (Mid Michigan)

By

Kim Dowis

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May 15, 2019

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Name: Katie Kowalski

Gym: Mid Michigan

Age Group: Senior B

Graduation: 2020

Favorite Quote: ” He who says he can and he who says he can’t, are both usually right”

Favorite Social Media: SnapChat

Favorite Type of Music: Country

Favorite Actor/Actress: Black Lively

Favorite Color: Blue

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Tell us about you experience competing at Level 10 Regionals in 2019, compare this experience to past regionals or Level 9 Regionals if this was your first year of 10. My experience at Level 10 Regionals in 2019 was definitely a lot of fun. I made sure to have a positive attitude throughout and be happy for all my teammates from other gyms. This year I wasn’t focusing on my scores and where I would place, I just wanted to make sure I tried my very best on every skill and routine. That as all I could ask for from myself

What have you learned from previous experiences at Regionals or Nationals and what made this year different? I learned this year at Regionals that it wasn’t about where I stood on the podium or at the meet, it was how I stood. I just focused on having fun and making the best of every moment.

What are you most looking forward to about nationals? I am super excited to be part of such an energetic and powerful team. I can’t wait to get to know everyone and make new friendships all while getting to do the thing we love most.

How does it feel to represent Region 5 on a national stage? It feels amazing to be able to represent Region 5 because I have dreamed about being a part of this experience since I was a little girl, always looking up to my teammates who earned their spots before.

What is your most memorable moment in gymnastics besides qualifying to JO Nationals? The most memorable moment in gymnastics other than qualifying to JO Nationals was winning vault and finishing 2nd place in the All-Around at Level 9 Easterns.

What is the most powerful piece of advice you have received and how has it specifically impacted your gymnastics? The most powerful piece of advice I have received was from my coach who always reminds me that I need to just have fun with what I do and trust my practice. Remembering this advice helps me calm my mind and take deep breaths before I compete my routines.

Tell me something interesting about yourself….special talents, hobbies, interesting facts, etc.. I was very fortunate to have modeled for Tumbl Trak for a couple of years with my teammates. I also became quite close with the staff that was always there.

JO Nationals Newbies: Madison Greene, Champion (Ky)

By

Kim Dowis

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May 14, 2019

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Name: Madison Greene

Gym: Champion (KY)

Age Group: Junior E

Graduation: Class of 2021

Favorite Quote:“To never give up no matter how hard it is.”

Favorite Color: Light Blue

Favorite Social Meda App: Snap Chat

Favorite Movie: Pearl Harbor

Favorite Superheo: Batman because of the colors

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Tell us about your experience competing at regionals in 2019: From my first regionals to this year’s regionals I gained a lot of confidence. My first regionals I was very nervous and I let the nerves get to me. I didn’t enjoy competing regionals like I should. This year at regionals I wanted to enjoy the experience but also go out there and do the best I possibly could.

What have you learned from previous experiences at regionals? At previous regionals, my mind set was only on qualifying to JO Nationals. This year was different because I focused on hitting my skills and going out there and doing the best I possibly could. My mind set was correcting the little details. From the change of my mindset it let me control my nerves and make it to JO Nationals.

What are you most looking forward to at JO Nationals? I am mostly looking forward to creating new friendships, making lifelong memories, and representing Region 5!

How does it feel to represent Region 5 on the big stage? My most memorable moment in gymnastics is catching my jeager for the first time. I will never forget that day. I was starting to get frustrated because I was catching but peeling off for a week straight. My teammate, Megan Bingham, was doing the same thing I was doing. We were talking in the chalk bucket and we both decided that this is the one. We were encouraging each other and hyping each other up. Next turn we both caught.

What is your most memorable moment besides qualifying to JO Nationals?Representing Region 5 on national stage is a little nerve wracking but it’s also very excited. I am excited to gain the experience and create memories that will last a lifetime.

What is one of the most memorable pieces of advice you have received and how has it specifically impacted you in gymnastics? One of my most memorable pieces of advice that I have received is to never give up on my goals and to continue to want to better myself. At the beginning of season, we wrote down goals and one of my goals was to focus on the little details to qualify to nationals.

What are some hobbies you enjoy? Some of my hobbies include listening to music whether it’s country or hip-hop, going shopping, hanging with my friends, and by far my favorite watching criminal minds. Criminal minds is by far my favorite show to watch ever. I love everything about it and how it’s so intense in every episode.